Jim Goulart

Final: Billings (Reds) 7, Helena 5 Helena Box Score It's something that the Reds aren't a big league powerhouse -- their Pioneer League team seems to rock every year; Brewers were down 7-1 at the 7th inning stretch; lesson learned by Rico Salmon and others tonight -- walks usually are very bad; Brewers drew 11 walks of their own but strand 12 overall; Mike Vass his 7th home run, a three-run shot, as his average inches up as well... Helena Game Log Corey Kemp struck out with the bases loaded to end the 8th...

Nashville Pre-Game Chat with Outfielder Jay Gibbons "Larger arms than Brendan Katin" -- good interview, seems contrite...

Jim Powell & Jack Zduriencik, Brewers Scouting Director, discuss the signing of First-Year Player Draft first round pick Brett Lawrie

Final: Huntsville 4, Mississippi (Braves) 2 Huntsville Press Release: Bullpen Blanks Braves to Preserve Stars' Win STARS CLAIM THIRD SERIES IN SECOND HALF Chris Errecart hit the game-winning home run and the bullpen threw three shutout frames afterwards to preserve Huntsville's 4-2 win Tuesday night in the last of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars won the series three games to two to improve to 21-24 in the second half and claim the season series 11-4, while the Braves dipped to 29-16 in the second half and saw their lead in the South Division trimmed to two and a half games after Montgomery beat West Tenn. The Stars won a series for a third time in nine tries in the second half, having split four and dropped two. Cole Gillespie's fielder's choice grounder in the first inning chased home Michael Brantley with the game's first run, as the Stars scored in their first at-bat in all five games. Gillespie was left stranded at third in the fourth with one out when Errecart grounded out and Lorenzo Cain flied out. Alcides Escobar doubled down the right field line with one out in the fifth to score Martin Maldonado to make it 2-0 and push the pitcher Alex Periard to third. The Stars could not cash in again, as Mat Gamel struck out and Gillespie flied out. Deunte Heath went five frames for the Braves, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out four. Reid Gorecki led off the sixth with a single, stole second and moved to third on a ground ball out before he did not score on Jordan Schafer's ground out to first. However, the base-running mistake was erased when Van Pope belted a two-run home run to tie the game. Periard retired the next hitter and finished his six inning stint allowing seven hits, walking three and striking out a pair. He earned his first double-A win and moved to 1-2. Paul Bush took over for Heath and fanned Mike Bell to open the home sixth before Errecart belted a long ball to break a 13 at-bat hitless streak and put the Stars back on top. Cain' sacrifice fly in the eighth inning added an insurance marker for Huntsville, who scored more than three runs for just a third time in the last 16 games. Patrick Ryan worked around a leadoff walk to throw a scoreless seventh inning, David Johnson did the same in the eighth and Juan Sandoval threw a scoreless ninth after issuing a leadoff walk and yielding a two-out infield single. He struck out pinch-hitter Kala Ka'aihue to end the game and earn his 15th save. The Stars open a five-game series with West Tenn Wednesday evening with right-hander Nic Ungs taking the mound against Diamond Jaxx' right-hander Joe Woerman. Coverage begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com. Huntsville Box Score Ten ground ball outs for Alex Periard in his third and most impressive AA start; with the exception of Matt LaPorta's departure (now Lorenzo Cain in the lineup), the "Big Eight" we talked about all season is only missing Angel Salome, apparently back soon; Cole Gillespie picks his spots, now 14-for-15 in stolen bases; former Huntsville catcher J.C. Boscan picks off Periard at second base, that's not fair; the Stars turned five double plays -- Periard working his usual ground ball magic helped, but Mat Gamel committed two errors, his first in quite a while (one fielding, one throwing)... Huntsville Game Log

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 4, West Virginia 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: SHOREBIRDS BEAT POWER ON SINGLES NIGHT The West Virginia Power and Delmarva Shorebirds combined to hit 18 singles on Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park, as the Shorebirds scored twice with two outs in the fourth inning to defeat the Power 4-3 and earned a series split. Delmarva scored in the first inning for the fourth night in a row. Tyler Henson reached on a fielders choice to score Ryan Adams, giving Delmarva a 1-0 lead. The Power scored all of their runs in the second inning on back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Matt Cline, Lee Haydel and Eric Farris. Delmarva cut the lead to a run in the third inning on Kieron Pope's run-scoring single. The Shorebirds took the lead back in the fourth with a pair of two out hits and never looked back. Adams singled in the tying run and scoring the eventual game winning run on Joe Mahoney's single. The Power left the tying run in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning. Nathan Nery (3-3) allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings and earned the victory. Mick Mattaliano (27) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save. Evan Anundsen (10-5) allowed four runs on seven hits, walked four and fanned three over four innings and was tagged with the loss. The Power fell to 62-52 on the year and 30-15 in the second half with the loss. The Shorebirds improved to 63-51 on the year and 25-20 in the second half with the win. Farris and Haydel paced the Power with two hits apiece. Eric Fryer singled in the first inning to extend his hitting to 11 games. Caleb Gindl went 0-for-4 ending his 26 game on-base streak. The Power are off on Wednesday, but will begin a four-game series against the Hickory Crawdads at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday night. The Power will start left hander Lucas Luetge (0-1, 3.86) and the Crawdads will counter with right hander Duke Welker (3-9, 5.01). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score RHP's Roque Mercedes and Corey Frerichs combined for five innings of scoreless relief; walks will kill you, unless you're Jeremy Jeffress -- walks have been a big issue suddenly and unexpectedly for Evan Anundsen in his last three starts... West Virginia Game Log Bad luck in the Power 5th, as Caleb Gindl lined into a double play with the bases loaded; leadoff man Zelous Wheeler on 2nd base in the Power 6th, but he never advanced even to third...

Final: Brevard County 3, Vero Beach (Rays) 0 Brevard County Box Score Jeremy Jeffress gets eight ground ball outs in six innings, strikes out only two while walking five as noted above, but with one hit and no runs allowed, it certainly seems we're seeing the attempted evolution of a pitcher, and it's fascinating to follow -- Jeffress has walked 23 in his last six starts covering 26.2 innings, but there are so many ways to dissect his numbers; lest we forget, kudos to RHP Mike McCendon and LHP Casey Baron for completing the shutout on the road; Charlie Fermaint homered to begin the game, and Taylor Green hit a two-run line drive home run in the 4th... Brevard County Game Log A line drive double play aided Jeffress in his 6th and final inning, but other than that, he was never in any real trouble...

Mike Jones will be a minor league free agent this fall. He's not getting added to the 40-man roster, so he would have to agree to a minor league deal (like he did last fall) and his 9th year in the system. Given the extreme patience the Brewers have shown with him this year, perhaps the relationship could continue, but I wouldn't think so unless a major success breakthrough happens in the next four weeks.

Lucroy already did Hawaii last fall...

We're hearing some rumblings from West Virginia and elsewhere that some players may have already been told they are under consideration for Hawaiian League spots. Thought it would be interesting to speculate on who may fill the three spots there, and we'll say four spots (for now) in Arizona. Keep in mind starting pitchers who haven't missed a start all season will be a tough sell, which is why I don't think you'll see Evan Anundsen in Hawaii, for instance. My guesses: Hawaii -- OF Caleb Gindl, 2B Eric Farris, LHP Bobby Bramhall (darkhorses RHP's Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Frerichs, and oh yes, wouldn't Brett Lawrie make some sense here) Arizona -- OF Michael Brantley, OF Lorenzo Cain, 1B Chris Errecart, RHP Joe Bateman Play along...

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with Brewers' Medical Coordinator Frank Neville Click on the KCAP archive of August 4th, then browse to the 11:00 minute mark; Neville's also involved in pre-draft analysis...

Arizona League Standings

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 68 48 .586 - 41-21 27-27 L1 Memphis 63 53 .543 5.0 30-25 33-28 L3 Omaha 51 65 .440 17.0 24-33 27-32 L1 Nashville 46 70 .397 22.0 21-33 25-37 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 27 17 .614 - 14-6 13-11 W3 Tennessee 23 21 .523 4.0 11-13 12-8 L3 Huntsville 20 24 .455 7.0 10-14 10-10 L1 West Tenn 18 25 .419 8.5 6-13 12-12 W2 Chattanooga 17 27 .386 10.0 8-12 9-15 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 25 15 .625 - 15-6 10-9 W1 St. Lucie 22 17 .564 2.5 11-7 11-10 W2 Jupiter 23 18 .561 2.5 12-9 11-9 W4 Palm Beach 20 22 .476 6.0 12-9 8-13 L2 Brevard County 17 24 .415 8.5 9-12 8-12 L1 Vero Beach 14 29 .326 12.5 6-14 8-15 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 30 14 .682 - 16-5 14-9 W1 Lakewood 28 16 .636 2.0 14-8 14-8 W1 Delmarva 24 20 .545 6.0 10-12 14-8 L1 Hagerstown 20 24 .455 10.0 9-14 11-10 W1 Lake County 19 25 .432 11.0 10-13 9-12 L1 Lexington 17 26 .395 12.5 8-14 9-12 W1 Greensboro 16 28 .364 14.0 8-13 8-15 L1 Hickory 15 29 .341 15.0 4-16 11-13 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 7 1 .875 - 5-0 2-1 W1 Great Falls 3 5 .375 4.0 1-2 2-3 L1 Helena 3 5 .375 4.0 1-3 2-2 L1 Missoula 3 5 .375 4.0 3-1 0-4 W1

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated several hours prior to gametime. Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_05_nasaaa_freaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_05_msbaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_05_breafa_vbdafa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_05_delafx_wvaafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_05_bilrok_helrok_1 Arizona: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_05_cubrok_brrrok_1

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Chris Narveson at Fresno (Giants), 8:50 PM pre-game; 9:05 gametime Audio link via WNSR, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t556 Huntsville: RHP Alex Periard at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link via WUMP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559 Brevard County: TBD (most likely RHP Jeremy Jeffress) at Vero Beach (Rays), 6:00 PM gametime Audio link via Vero Beach broadcast, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?cid=503&sid=t503 West Virginia: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Delmarva (Orioles), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525 Helena: RHP Rico Salmon at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:55 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Audio link via KCAP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433 Arizona: TBD vs. the timid lil' Cubbies in Maryvale, 7:00 PM local Mountain Standard Time Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

Part Two with Don Money also fantastic (Escobar, Salome, much more) I never knew that the Brewer coaches were asked to fill out reports on all the opponents as well for posiible future trades -- it makes sense to me now, obviously, I just always pictured the pro scouting staff handling that in its entirety. Goes to show that guys like Money do a lot more than just rolling out the bats and calling for the occasional hit-and-run...

LHP Derek Miller has been activated from Huntsville's disabled list, so hopefully his shoulder issues are all set. Miller was then transferred to Brevard County for what should be a relatively brief stay. INF Yohannis Perez was also shuttled back down to Huntsville from Brevard. Huntsville's roster is currently at 23, one short of the limit. To open the two roster spots at Brevard, 1B / OF Stephen Chapman was placed on the Manatee 7-day DL with an unspecified injury, retroactive to August 1st. Also, Manatee utility infielder Jimmy Mojica has been released by the organization. Mojica, only 24, posted decent numbers at West Virginia last season, and started out like a house o'fire with the Manatees this spring before uneven playing time cooled off his game. Mojica was easy to root for because he was an independent league signee who signed his first affiliated contract with the Brewers prior to the '07 season. He was a client of Josh, our DDSM agent friend. I've often contended the numbers game really has to be stacked against you as a position player in the Brewers' organization for you to be released while at A-ball. Crew management simply doesn't extend themselves numbers-wise on position players. Now pitchers, that's a different story, and we see both of those facts at play when spring training releases are announced each year. Good luck to Jimmy.

Johnson was even on the Arizona Fall League last season. The Brewers don't like sending starters to the AFL, as they've often reached innings limits, so they'll find various relievers that they like to include.

Final: Arizona Mariners 11, Arizona Brewers 1 Arizona Box Score Brewer pitchers allow only two earned runs, nice -- now, about those nine unearned runs, that's not exactly limiting the damage nor picking up your teammates... Arizona Game Log

Final: Billings (Reds) 10, Helena 9 Helena Site game Summary: Mustangs hold off Brewers'Comeback Bid The Billings Mustangs held on to defeat the Helena Brewers Monday night 10-9. The Brewers rallied in the ninth and had the bases loaded with two outs but couldn't get the big hit as they fall to 3-5 in the second half of the season. With the win, the Mustangs improve to 7-1. The teams combined for 31 hits and only one inning without any scoring. Helena had six different players collect two hits in the game. Erik Komatsu and Erik Miller both had triples for the Brewers while Brock Kjeldgaard and Chris Dennis had two RBI's apiece. Efrain Nieves struggled through four innings, giving up four runs and eight hits but did strike out five Mustang hitters. Lance Janke picks up his third win of the season as he went five complete innings, allowing six hits and four runs. Mike Konstanty and Tony Brown each had home runs for Billings while Tyler Stovall had a double and a triple and David Sappelt also had a double. The Brewers look to earn a split of the series as they take on the Mustangs again Tuesday night, the final game of the four-game series. Link while active, text folllows: Mustangs survive late rally by Brewers By CURT SYNNESS - Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers made it interesting right down to the final out Monday, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning and needing only one run to send the game into extra innings against the Billings Mustangs. The Brewers came up just short, being shaded by the Mustangs 10-9 in Pioneer League action at Kindrick Legion Field. Billings (7-1) led 7-4 after six frames, but the home team kept scratching their way back. The Magic City nine outhit the Brew Crew, 16-15. Brett Bartles paced the attack, going 4-for-6 and scoring two runs. Tony Brown was 2-for-6, belting a home run and driving in three runs, while Mike Konstanty went 2-for-4, with a homer and two runs batted in. Puckett, David Sappelt, Tyler Stovall and Jose Gualdron each had two hits apiece. The Mustangs used three pitchers, with starter Lance Janke registering the win. The game lasted 3 hours, 14 minutes, in front of a large homefield crowd of over 1,400 spectators. Helena's (3-5) offense produced six guys with two hits each; David Fonseca, Erik Komatsu, Erik Miller, Brock Kjeldgaard, Chris Dennis and Jose Duran. Komatsu and Miller both had triples. Kjeldgaard and Dennis accounted for two RBI apiece. Trailing 10-8 going in their final at-bat, Derrick Alfonso walked and came around to score to get within one. Later, with the bases loaded and two out, Miller grounded out to end the game. Centerfielder Komatsu and third baseman John Delaney stood out defensively. Efrain Nieves started on the hill for the locals, going four stanzas and taking the loss. He was relieved by Nestor Corredor, Mark Willinsky and Brandon Rapoza. The two teams meet again tonight at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). Helena Box Score The pitchers didn't do the job, plain and simple -- no errors, can't blame the defense... Helena Game Log

Helena lost a tight one, Marvale got pounded, and there's probably more audio on the way in addition to media reports. All that by mid-morning, thanks for hanging in there...

Link while active, text follows: Potent Power offense provides another victory First-place West Virginia keeps two-gamec lead in SAL division by Christopher Wade For the Charleston Daily Mail Some impressive streaks continued, some were snapped, and more milestones were reached ... all in a days work for the potent West Virginia Power offense. Despite Power third baseman Matt Cline having his on-base streak end at 23 games, center fielder Caleb Gindl extended his to 28 straight, and the Power became the first team in the South Atlantic League to reach 600 runs in the 2008 season. It all added up to another explosive performance from the Power offense as West Virginia went on to a 9-4 South Atlantic League baseball victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds at Appalachian Power Park on Monday night. The Power (30-14) kept its two-game lead in the SAL Northern Division second-half standings with the win. "In the second half, our offense has been building and we've been hitting the ball real well and scoring a lot of runs," said Power left fielder Lee Haydel. "It's a good feeling." Haydel was one of four Power players with multiple hits against the Shorebirds. He did it from the No. 9 slot in the lineup, showing the club's great balance from top to bottom. Haydel has seen his spot in the lineup vary from the very top to the very bottom after spending the early part of the season leading off for the Power. Haydel indicated it doesn't matter where he hits, as long as he keeps producing. "Wherever 'Ice' (Power manager Jeff Isom) hits me, its all about the team," Haydel said. "We have to bat wherever they put us. It's a good feeling when your eight and nine hitters are almost hitting .300." Haydel is hitting .295 and Cline, currently the No. 8 Power hitter, is batting .291. Just like Haydel, Cline has moved all around the lineup after spending time at the number one slot as well. "We are just trying to get a good pitch to hit, put some wood on the ball, and whatever happens, happens," said Wheeler, who hit a key three-run homer Monday night. "We've got good team chemistry right now. We know we all can do it. It don't matter where you bat at, somehow your going to get the job done. We pick each other up every night." Along with leading the SAL in total runs, the Power also lead the league in hits, doubles, on base percentage, and slugging. Isom has been enjoying what he seeing from his lineup day in and day out. "Getting good production, one through nine, is what you hope for," Isom said. "We feel like we are going to score runs with our offense. We are getting good balance from the lineup." Along with Haydel, Wheeler, Eric Fryer, and Steffan Wilson all had multihit games for the Power, who pounded out 13 hits. "We don't have to rely on one or two guys and that is where we have had success with this offense," Isom said. "The key is one through nine every night, you never know who's going to come up with that big hit." "One night it could be Gindl, the next night it could be Wheeler, the next night it could be Wilson, and the next night it could be the Nos. 8 and 9 guys." Wheeler had the big blow, a three-run homer that gave the Power a 6-3 lead. Three batters earlier, Fryer hit a solo home run to tie the game. "I was just looking for a pitch over the plate I could handle. I got one on the first pitch, just swung, and I took advantage of it." Isom said Wheeler's homer "couldn't have come at a better time. We had guys on base and got us the lead. That was a big one for us." The Power and Shorebirds finish the four-game series tonight at Appalachian Power Park at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia is off Wednesday before starting a four-game home series against Hickory.

Via the Nashville Site: The Mystery of August Trades Chuck Valenches' Latest Blog Entry I definitely chuckled a couple of times...

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Infielder Chris Woodward